The Big Story

The setup Saturday was perfect, almost as if it were a conspiracy between the sporting gods and mother nature.

There were two NBA Game 7s and both had plenty of intrigue and, for good measure, there was the Kentucky Derby.

Meanwhile, a blustery spring wind and a spitting rain made yardwork impossible. There was nothing to do but sit and watch in uninterrupted bliss as the day's events unfolded.

Alas, the best laid plans ... The entire day turned out to be a dud.

Start with the Kentucky Derby, which promised the dawn of a new superhorse in Bellamy Road. George Steinbrenner's pride (because this year it isn't the Yankees) was in second at the mile pole and had open track in front of him but faded badly and finished seventh.

So instead of the next Secretariat we were given Giacomo, a roan horse named after Sting's son, which paid $102.60. Perhaps there is joy in this underdog story.

But after Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, which both made runs at becoming the next Seabiscuit, it would have been nice to see the next Secretariat.

Or at least the next Seattle Slew.

Still, the Derby was only a mild disappointment compared with the drudgery of the NBA's offering.

The games promised to be classics. The Celtics had forced a Game 7 despite Paul Pierce's ill-advised demand for some elbow room (and Jamaal Tinsley's over-the-top flop). The Pacers were hoping to extend Reggie Miller's career.

This time, instead of a Tinsley flop, the whole game was a flop. The Pacers won by 27, which would have been one thing if Miller had treated us to a final show of his brilliance, but he finished with five points. Instead, we got Fred Jones (16 points) and petulant displays from Kendrick Perkins and Justin Reed, who were ejected in the fourth quarter.

A good day gone bad but there was still hope. The Rockets-Mavericks series had been the most interesting in the first round if only because Jeff Van Gundy had turned into Oliver Stone, spouting conspiracy theories and referencing mysterious phone calls.

Van Gundy's claim that the refs were collaborating against Yao Ming had forced David Stern to channel Earl Warren -- the officials were acting alone -- and cast a bitterness and tension upon each game.

But this all fizzled as the Mavericks outplayed the Rockets at both ends of the floor to win, 116-76.